E CAN-SKATE!

E has his first CANSKATE lesson yesterday morning, and despite a few tears at the beginning, I was very proud of him!

He was very gung-hoe to go skating... all week he had been asking how many more sleeps, and 'are we goin' to the wink now?' with much anticipation, but yesterday morning at breakfast he quietly confessed 'I don't wanna go no more'.

I half expected this, as this is the type of child he is... very excited, but nervous and shy when it comes to actually doing something he's never really done before, and with people he doesn't know.

The thing about skating for a parent is that its not as easy to say, oh go on, you'll be fine... because its a skill he has yet to acquire. Its not like dropping him off at daycare and knowing that he will actually be fine once you leave him.  But nonetheless, skating is a skill that can provide enjoyment for many years to come - and I think he will love it once he gets the hang of it - hence the need for the lessons!

So... yesterday morning we suited him up in some layers, splash pants and a warm jacket (despite the 30 degree weather).  We arrived at the rink in good time, he got his name badge, his skates on, and eventually we secured the helmet.  As he lined up to go on the ice he was clinging to PC like white on rice... but with the direction of the instructors, we handed him over to their guidance and that's when the tears came.

His teacher was extremely patient and once he could see us on the boards watching him, he sucked up the tears and started to listen to what she had to say. It was slow, but she worked with him and eventually he was standing on his own, and starting to take a few baby steps on his skates. He fell once - a good fall - and there were a few more tears, but with the teacher's guidance she helped him get back on his feet, and making forward motion.

The CANSKATE sessions at our club are only 25 minutes long, which was a great length for him.  When he came off... he was smiling (as in the 'I can't believe I survived that' type smile), and when we announced how proud we were of him for trying, his face lit up.

I was more than thrilled with how the lesson went, as I assumed it would go much worse, to the point where he wouldn't even try because PC and I were not there to help him.  Boy was I wrong - and pleasantly surprised.  I can't wait for next week... but I am sure E is glad he has a seven day rest ahead of him!

Here are a few pics from the morning skate... we *may* just have a future Olympian on our hands!

6 YEARS Baby!

Six years ago today I was walking down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams... today, we took our almost three year-old to his very first skating lesson, with our 9 month-old in tow. How crazy is that?

Six years has zoomed by in the blink of an eye.  In my world, its quite an accomplishment ... and I am thanking the heavens above that we've survived these six years ... still having fun, still in love, and still annoying the heck out of one another!

Children definitely change marriage in a way that forces your relationship to change too... and while these past few years on our marriage haven't quite been a honeymoon, when we do get a chance to spend some time alone, we are still enjoying one another and still feeling "it"!

In the last year, we've added another member to our family, and nothing underlines your love for one another than bringing a child into this world together. The look we shared when we got to meet our sweet baby boy for the first time was such an amazing reminder of what love is... and those first few moments of seeing him are forever etched in my memory.

We will always have those special moments to keep us bonded together... and although we have our ups and downs, like any relationship, at the end of the day, I still feel very blessed to be married to such a great guy, a good father, and most importantly, my best friend. When I think of the journey we are on... its only just the beginning.

Happy 6th Anniversary PC, I love you!

Photo taken by: Baby & Belly Photography

9 Months: Shovel Shovel, Clap Clap

So here we are... my sweet baby boy is another month older... 9 months to be exact. Where has the time gone?

While the summer was busy, this month has been equal go go go! But at least we are based out of home and are trying to resume a somewhat regular routine.

At 9 months, Hudson is full of energy.  Not crawling forwards just yet, but definitely has the reverse motion going on. He's ninth tooth has almost arrived, its there, but has yet to break through the gums! Any day now, I'm sure.  Unfortunately, in the the last few days, H has developed his first cold, and I can guarantee that his least favourite activity on this earth is having his nose wiped.  Talk about protesting... WOW, can he put up a good fight!

The best part of the last month has been watching him clap on command. He loves his little rock stage toy that sings 'if your happy and you know it clap your hands'... he loves to clap away to that, and can patty-cake with the best of them. The look on his face is priceless when you start singing patty-cake... he lights up and performs! So cute.

I just put away most of his summer clothes, and quickly realized that he's jumped two sizes since the spring. He has a bit of a different build that his big bro, so certain clothes are just not his style. And hats... I have a million cute little hats from E's wardrobe, but this boy is not having anything to do with hats. You put it on, he rips it off, you put it on again, he rips off AGAIN.  Wash. rinse. repeat. Its quite the game, and although I really want to win, I know I'm not going too!

Lately we've been calling H 'the shovel' because his hands act like shovels as soon as you put any finger foods down for him. He scoops them up off the table and in to his mouth by the handful and then gives you this serious look as if 'that's all? C'mon, I'll take some more'. Wonder where he gets that from? ;-)!  He's a good eater though.. and is digging the meats, and all of the fruits, except peaches.  He is slowly mastering the sippy cup too... using the shovels, he directs it into his mouth and then giggles with delight because he thinks is a toy that sprays him! Very fun to watch!  I have no idea what he weighs these days as we haven't been to the doctor since his six month appointment, but I hazard to guess its in the 18 pounds range right now! He's heavy on the hip that's for sure.

On another note 9 months for Hudson means, I only have 3 more months to spend at home with him.  He is at such a fun age of discovery, and its so fun to watch. I'm going to try to stop looking at the calendar so much and focus more of the fun that lies ahead.

Photo shoot was a bit difficult given that my shooting subject was a little under the weather, but we came up with a few shots that mark this milestone month.

You are such a fun little boy Hudson, Happy 9 months!

And so it begins...

This past week we registered E for CANSKATE, so that he can learn to skate on his own. I saw when the registration night was and I asked him about whether or not he wanted to do it, and his first response was 'but I gonna fall Mommy'. I explained that this is why he would go to the lessons, so that a teacher would help him, and he can learn to fall down and get back up on his own. He agreed it was a good thing and is now super excited about it... (I'm betting that wears off the minute he has to part ways with us as he gets onto the ice, but we'll see)!

At any rate... when we went to register him for the program, we had pay for the lessons, pay a membership fee to the skating club, and then we got our fundraising kit. Umm... excuse me? Fundraising? He's 2 (almost 3, but for the sake of this post, 2).

I know I know... every organization (and their dog) does fundraising, and I know why they do it, and how important it is to these organizations, but for the LOVE OF GOD, do we need to be smacked in the face with fundraising the first time we sign 'our very first child' up for anything. I had a bit of a shocked look on my face... and the woman who was helping me kind of rolled her eyes too, but did explain what it was for and pushed it in front my take home pile. It's only $40 per kid, and I know we have grandparents and aunts and uncles and friends who will probably buy the tickets, but at the same time... he's 2, and he has to fund raise.

Welcome to the world of extra-circular activities... would you like to buy a ticket?

Slow it down!

It's September.... not the 1st, but the 8th! A week in, and its already flying by! STOP September.... don't move, I have shit to accomplish this month and your moving way to fast for my liking!

I have a gazillion blog posts I'd like to write and only 2,000 photos I want to share with you from our six weeks of simply summer vacation, but the days are just zipping by, and the more I sit in front of this laptop, the less I am actually accomplishing (damn you Pinterest).

I have waaaaaaaaaaay too much on my mind these days. Mainly, its the last quarter of my awesome maternity leave, and I have a list three miles long of things I want to accomplish before reality crashes my doorstep.  However, before I can get to that list, I have two mega birthday celebrations to plan for my sweet duo of bros, an anniversary that can't go unnoticed, a few other family birthdays, and then of course the inevitable return to work - and decisions to make about work in general.

I also have been away for so long that there are a million and one people I want to visit and catch up with, but the truth of it all is that I can't reallly enjoy visiting with people and doing lunches and play-dates until I knock a few items off my to-do list.

Sometimes, sitting in this house just makes me look around at all the projects I want to be doing, and should be doing, but then my baby boy cries, my big boy repeats 'watch me Mommy' a thousand times over, and before you know it the supper fairy screwed off again and didn't leave a decent meal.

I have good intentions, I really do, but if the calendar doesn't stop flipping, I think I'm gonna have a little flip out of my own!

Anyone else feeling a little overwhelmed at how fast the days are passing... before we know it we'll be singing phacking Christmas carols and cursing mall parking lots!

Please... someone, make. it. stop.

8 Months: Come, Sit, Chat!

Summer is flying by... and so has another milestone month for my sweet baby boy.  So many changes in the last month... most notably Hudson is sitting up all by himself! He's like a different boy when sitting unassisted... so proud of himself with every look, and ready to grasp everything in sight!

He is eating like a machine... a very particular machine, but when he finds a taste he likes, he has no problem devouring everything you give him.  Vegetables are still hit and miss... and when its a complete miss you practically need a chisel to pry open those lips. We're moving onto fruits, and I know they will disguise the taste of the veggies, but the real question is... for how long?!

H sprouted another tooth ... for 8 in total, but is really working away at some side molars now.  There were a few interrupted nights up at the cottage due to teething, but a rough night at the cottage, is better than any day at home!

Speaking of cottage... this past month, H has been all over the country side with us.  He had his first boat ride, sat by the campfire, put his feet in both Lake Superior and the Georgian Bay, had a ride in the tree swing, played in the sand, and has had an all around great first summer.  He is becoming quite the little babbler too... and has no problem speaking up when he wants some attention.

H is still loving his sleep ... a solid 12 hours every night, with two cushy 2 hour naps everyday. When he is not snoozing, his jumperoo is by far his favourite thing to do... closely followed by sitting outside and watching his big bro run circles around him.

Its hard to dress this boy up as he still likes to let you know what he ate every once and while... but it never affects his mood - as they say... puke and rally! I did manage to get a few photos in for his 8 month photo shoot... but the 8th month signage seemed more appealing than Mommy dancing like a two-stepper on speed!  Nonetheless... there are few keepers in this set!

Happy 8 Months Huddy Buddy!